5 Tips For Entering Law School Students

When you enter law school it is such a foreign land.  It can almost appear to be enemy territory.  Nobody teaches you how to study, succeed, thrive or survive in law school, and your base of knowledge is so small it is exceedingly hard to figure it out.  People can give you hints and a few suggestions but, like they say, you really have to figure it out for yourself.  I had one law professor that compared it to someone parachuting you behind enemy lines with nothing but a pocket knife and a Hersey bar.  I remember asking my father-in-law, who is a lawyer, for advice and he just kept telling me "don't fight the problem," and I kept thinking, what in the hell does that mean.

But, as far as advice goes, I ran across the Top 5 Tips for Entering Law School Students on Atlas LSAT Blog.  I think it is good well-rounded advice.  I will not cover all that was written here, but here are the highlights.

1.     More is not better.  Pick up one commercial outline you like for each subject.  Buy and use only the books absolutely assigned.  All else will only distract you and the truth of the matter is you do not have time to read all of that stuff anyway.

2.    One head may be better than three.  Share some.  Talk some.  Ask for help.  But nix the study group.Ambitious [I]f you stand around for 10 minutes and listen to a study group study together, they’re generally doing one of two things: being quiet and studying independently or talking about something that has nothing to do with law.

3.    Don’t overthink it.  Law professors like to complicate things, [b]ut the truth is that much of the case law is pretty straightforward in the way it will be tested.  The students that get themselves into trouble are the ones who present themselves with all sorts of convoluted exceptions, or who over complicate the concepts.

4.    You’re doing as well as you think you are.  One of the biggest concerns for 1st year law students is “How am I doing?”  You don’t receive any concrete feedback ... This kind of feedback-free environment preys on the insecurities of many students, as many feel like they’re falling behind if they don’t study endlessly.  Don’t let it shake your confidence.  Remember that no one has received any grades, and it’s a level playing field.  Focus on what you’re doing day-to-day and remind yourself to stay positive.

5.    Put down the books sometimes.  If you’re like the vast majority of people, your brain stops functioning at a high level after a certain amount of studying, and the returns will diminish dramatically after, say, the 5th hour.  Give yourself a normal schedule, including time away from the books doing things you enjoy and relaxing.  Remember, it’s not the workaholics who succeed in law school.

Comments

[Corinne A. Tampas]

One more: be honest with yourself as to the amount of time you really do study.

I worried that I did not spend enough time studying as I had classmates that would talk about the hours and hours they spent in the law library studying. Yet, when I did go to the law library to do some research, I noticed that those same classmates were (a) reading the newspaper, (b) sleeping, or (c) leaving open books on the table while they visited with other students in front of the restrooms.

Perhaps they really did think they put in the hours which begs the question: now that they are attorneys and practicing law, do they think that they are putting in those kind of hours and billing the client?

[luke]

That's a great list. I agreed with all but number 4, and only because my performance has always been somewhat inverted from how I thought I was doing. I found I adjusted by focusing not on how well I thought I was doing but by setting realistic goals - reading the material more than once, briefing, starting to outline by a certain date, doing practice questions - and sticking to the plan as much as possible.

I had no idea how I was doing relative to anyone else but I knew I was the best law student I knew how to be.

[Gordon]

Chuck, you've hit the nail on the head. I'd just add one more tip. Don't withdraw from the world for 3 years while in school. Stay involved with family, friends, hobbies, etc., and stay abreast of news, current events, and the like. Being well-rounded counts for a lot. There are plenty of law "geeks" out there who are great in the library, but can't schmooze a client to save their lives. Keep your social skills honed!

[PerGynt]

I agree with Gordon. A good phone plan to stay in touch with your family and friends is very important. It is always important, but even more so in law school.